Jandie & Colin get Engaged!

We've known for quite some time it was coming but it became official on Monday night (Christmas Eve) Jandie and Colin got engaged. They were at Temple Square near the reflection pool when he knelt in the snow and popped the question.

They have been all smiles ever since.

 Here's the bling.

Cole Gets a New Car

Ever since Cole got hired on as a Geologist he has toyed with the idea of getting him a new car.

On Saturday he went looking, and when you look you find.

He got a 2011 Honda Accord with leather seats and a sun roof.

 We are happy for you Cole!!! 

Late Summer Happenings

Jandie had her 19th birthday last month. We had a lasagna dinner and were altogether as a family.

 Lyndie & Nate and Cole got her all 7 seasons of Sabrina.

 Colin and his mom made her this beautiful quilt.

 She wanted Strawberry Cheesecake Dessert instead of cake.

 Cole moved from Murray to Sandy. He had a little bit more to move this time but we were able to get him moved in a couple of hours. 

 We also celebrated Nate's birthday last month too.

Our family Sunday dinners were getting crowded around our old dining table so we splurged and got us a new one. This one has two leafs and seats us all with room to grow.

 Dennis had the opportunity to go with his friend Dean to a Porsche Rally and is now got the itch for a new sports car.....

 I convinced Jandie to let me take some portraits of her up at the park. She is a good sport and lets me practice my photography on her. 

Southern Oregon Vacation

We took our family vacation to Southern Oregon this year. Lyndie and Nate came along as did Jandie's boyfriend Colin.  Cole wasn't able to come and we missed having him there.

 Lyndie and Nate at the beach.

 All of us at the Trees of Mystery sitting on Paul Bunyan's boot.

 At the top of the Sky Trail above the Redwoods

 These trees are huge and so cool!

 Colin and Jandie on the Sky Trail - Jandie was a little freaked out....

 It would take probably 10 people to go around the trunk of these trees.

 The roots of a fallen tree

 I took this picture in the yard of the house we stayed at. I loved how it turned out.

 We walked around the harbor in Brookings. Lyndie & Nate bought them some jawbreakers at the candy shop - can you tell??

 When our time on the coast was almost over we discovered the fog wasn't so bad further up the coast.

 The last night we were on the coast we got ice cream and watched the sunset.

 Nate always wanted to get a picture of him holding the sun. In real life the sun was a gorgeous orange color, but it didn't photograph that way.

 All of us in front of the guest house we stayed at.

 At the Avenue of the Boulders on the Rogue River

 Crater Lake

 Dennis had the hiccups and every time I went to take a picture he'd hiccup and everyone would laugh.

Not a good group shot but everyone was tired of me taking their picture....

We had a good vacation and saw some beautiful scenery. I can see why this area isn't

traveled by many, it's a long ways away and there is not much around but forests.

Pancakes, Hot Dogs & Fireworks

My family was altogether for the 4th of July this year. The last time all 8 of us were together for the 4th was 1976 so this was a special treat. We got together at my parents the next evening and quickly got this picture taken when the rain started.

It is tradition to have breakfast in the park with Den's family on the 4th. It was nice to have all of our kids there.

Lyndie and Nate with their matching T-shirts..ahhh....

Cole with his shades

Jandie & Colin (where Jandie is - Colin is also....)

All three of my kids

Watching the firework show

Shirley looked over at Jandie & Colin and said "they are so cute, they remind me of Bambi & Feline" 

My nephew Jason always brings his remote control car and entertains the crowd as it whips around the street with a firework taped to it.

Colin's truck tailgate became Firework Headquarters for Wayne & Ken and the boys.

Watching the fireworks

We had a safe and happy 4th, but boy was I tired at the end of the night.